Break-up's are hard to take, no matter who they're with

I watch pretty much any sport, but I can undoubtedly say I am a football fan. I've been a Giants fan for as long as I can remember. I got the Giants genes from my brothers, which were passed down from my dad. My dad emigrated here from Italy in the 80's, and at that time the Giants had just drafted arguably the best defense player of all-time, Lawrence Taylor. With his arrival the Giants were a playoff contender, making it fun to watch. My dad became an instant fan. So I couldn’t help being a fan too, I grew up rooting for big blue.

During my time watching the Giants, I remember watching and loving many players. If it were Michael Strahan, Jeremy Shockey, Amani Toomer, Jason Seahorn, Eli Manning, even Tiki Barber (before he bashed our two-time Super bowl winning MVP), and now Ahmad Bradshaw, Jason Pierre-Paul, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz, I never had just one player I loved over another. I didn’t like a bunch, but never had an absolute favorite.

The only exception I ever had, that I could call my favorite player was Steve Smith. He wasn't the best player on the team, he wasn't even noticed as a great draft pick (picked by NYG with the 51st overall pick out of USC). He just always got the job done. He wasn’t the biggest, or the fastest, just a quiet guy who knew his role in the slot, and got the job done. 

I think what made me really love him, was his role during his rookie year for the Giants. They would go on that year to win Super bowl XLII, and Steve Smith's play during the playoff run made it possible. Many would give most the credit to Plexico Burress, and don't get me wrong, without Burress’ play we wouldn't have been able to even get to the big dance anyway. But Smith was such a key piece for that playoff run that it landed him a special place in my heart. It literally made him my favorite Giant in one season. He was drafted by the Giants and I thought he would continue his career as a Giant too.

Smith backed up his great play during the 2007 playoffs, by having a contributing sophomore year in a limited role. Then in 2009, Smith had a breakout season, stepping up as the best receiver on the team. His record breaking 107 catches was the best in the Giants long history. I figured he would have great things to come after that, and I was excited to watch him in a blue uniform for years to come. I always felt as though he had great potential, even coming out of college. In my opinion he could have become one of the most dominant receivers in Giants history. Unfortunately, after a pelvic injury ended his 2010 season early, Smith became a free agent. Reportedly, the Giants were in talks to re-sign Smith. There were no doubts in my mind he would re-sign with the organization that drafted him.

I was dead wrong, because that day never came. I remember exactly where I was when I found out the heart-breaking news.

I was at a soccer practice over the summer, and I looked to check the time on my phone, when I realized that my friend had texted me. She, like me, loved Steve Smith. She was lucky enough to have gone to the Giants training camp that past year in Albany, and got to meet him.

She told me he was officially a Philadelphia Eagle. I honestly thought she was playing a sick joke on me. An Eagle? No possible way. If he signed with another team, he had enough respect not to go to a division rival, especially not the Eagles. 

Let’s just clear one thing up. If you are a true Giants fan, you loathe the Philadelphia Eagles. It's more than hate. It gets as serious as, you won’t even date someone if they are an Eagles fan. That is a legit deal breaker.

But, it was sadly true. My favorite player went to the dark side. Or you can say, the dirty green side. I know people can say it's a business or whatever, and things like this are a part of football, blah, blah, blah. What I say to that is bullshit. It's not like the Eagles gave Smith a killer contract ($2.281 million for 1 year). And it isn't as if he would have been the starting receiver either, with the Eagles having DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant and Jeremy Maclin, being there top three receivers going into the year.

The reason he signed with them was because he sold out, bottom line. No one can convince me otherwise.  He sold out and played into the whole "Dream Team" talk that was going on that summer, becoming another “hot” free-agent signing for the Eagles that off-season.

His signing literally broke my heart. Not to get all sentimental, but it felt like my boyfriend of three years just broke up with me, and then a day later, I find out he has begun dating the girl I had hated forever. 

Ironically enough, Smith did virtually nothing for the Eagles, with his only touchdown catch being against, guess who? Yes, my New York Giants. It's really okay though because the boys in blue had the last laugh becoming Super bowl Champions again, while the "Dream Team" Eagles didn’t even making the playoffs.

Interesting enough, the Eagles did not re-sign Smith at the end of this year, and the Giants were looking for a receiver. And as sad as it is, and as much as I feel as though Smith betrayed me, and stomped on my heart, I really wanted the Giants to re-sign him. 

I know. I know.  I feel as stupid as you think I am right now. I guess once you have a favorite player you just want him to come back to you, so you can have the relationship you used to have with him.

God, exes really do suck.